Williams, Gyokeres transfer latest as Andrea Berta hits ground running after Arsenal announcement

Arsenal's newly appointed director of football, Andrea Berta, looks to have hit the ground running as he lines up a bumper summer transfer window for the Gunners.

Berta was in attendance for the first time since starting his new role, watching thanks to a goal scored by the returning .

But it's the work the 53-year-old Spaniard has been focusing on off the field which has fans excited, as it appears the club is stepping up efforts to bolster its attacking options.

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Mikel Arteta looks resigned to finishing second for the third consecutive season, this time losing out on the title to Liverpool.

Fans implored Arteta and his bosses to dust off the chequebook in January in a last-ditch bid to catch Liverpool in the title race, but the Emirates hierarchy opted against it despite rumoured interest in and a rejected bid for Ollie Watkins.

Instead, it seems, the club has been unwilling to undo its meticulous transfer planning by blowing a large chunk of an alleged bumper transfer kitty during the winter window and now looks set to loosen the purse strings this summer.

Latest on Viktor Gyokeres

Viktor Gyokeres has emerged as a probable target for the club, with insisting the Swedish striker would prefer a move to London over also-interested Manchester United.

Gyokeres has 30 goals in 26 Liga Portugal games this campaign, nine from the penalty spot, and a release clause of €100million but could depart Sporting for a fee closer to €70million. The Portuguese champions are quietly hoping they can start a bidding war between Premier League clubs if they are to sell their star man this summer.

Could Berta dip back into the Spanish market for Nico Williams?

Andrea Berta oversaw plenty of successes at Atletico Madrid during his time in the Spanish capital, some of the highlights of which were his transfer dealings.

Atletico signed Ballon d'Or winner Rodri from Villarreal for just €20m and negotiated cut-price deals for , €7million, and Antoine Griezmann, €20million, who proved they both had a part to play after leaving Barcelona.

Now, Arsenal could be set to benefit from the 53-year-old's deep-rooted knowledge of the Spanish market and land one of the country's most exciting talents in Nico Williams.

As per a report from , the 22-year-old winger has already met with Berta, who intends to lure him away from Athletic Bilbao to the Emirates.

Williams was heavily linked with a departure last summer following a strong campaign with Spain but has remained with his boyhood club.

Barcelona and Bayern Munich hold their interest in the winger, but Arsenal are now expected to compete for his services, with Berta's contacts perhaps having a big part to play in any potential move.